Permit to Convert My Garage Into a Room: ADU Conversions

There are several ways you can create an accessory dwelling unit on your property, and one of them is converting a garage into a living space. The garage conversion costs are typically less than if you build an ADU from scratch, but this additional living space needs to meet certain criteria. For the most part, these are convenience and habitability considerations, as well as rules contained in the local building code and local ordinances.

So, if you plan to repurpose your garage to generate extra space for living, entertainment, work, or additional income, let’s take a closer look at these converted living spaces!

Garage Conversion Rooms

With the accessory dwelling unit diversity, you can transform your garage into anything you want unless it doesn’t conflict with building codes, local rules, regulations, and zoning restrictions. Whether it’s a detached or attached garage, you can choose a layout that fits your property.

Converting the Whole Garage

The most efficient way to save money is to transform the whole garage into a coherent, usable living space. That’s because repurposing an existing garage space for residential use usually requires fewer resources; your garage suits this goal from the very beginning. A whole ADU necessitates at least one bedroom space, a kitchen or kitchenette, a bathroom space, and a minimal living area. If your garage is big enough, you can get creative and add more interesting spaces to your new small house.

Converting a Garage Into a Bedroom

If you have a very small garage and it’s an attached one, you can convert a garage into a bedroom or another necessary room. This is not an ADU project but more of a house extension, allowing you to add more living space without large-scale and usually costly work.

Converting a Garage Plus Adding Rooms

This is a combination of both previous options: a garage conversion project plus adding new rooms to the property. The latter demands subsequent construction with respect to already existing areas. Such a project is quite complex, so the involvement of a professional general contractor is strictly necessary.

Living Space Versatility

Many homeowners need additional space for housing extended family members and retired parents, others for guests or tenants. Some people hope to convert a garage into a place where they can work without interruption, while others require more entertainment areas for their house.

Whether your ADU project involves a family room, a home office, a playroom, a room for home theater, or an art studio if it’s a studio apartment or a 2-bedroom ADU, a garage conversion project is a way to bring your idea to life.

Garage Conversion Benefits

Is converting a garage into a residential area more beneficial than building from the ground up? Certainly, reusing an existing structure is always beneficial, as you can obtain additional square footage on even a fairly small plot of land. It is also sustainable and environmentally friendly because you reduce waste and contribute to land preservation.

In addition to the named advantages, a converted space also comes with the following perks:

1. Saving time. If the existing space is suitable for residential use, a garage conversion project will take less time. Thus, by adding minimum modifications, you’ll be able to accommodate your family members there in the near future.
2. Saving money. The basic framework of the converted garage is already in place. Since the existing garage has a foundation, structural walls, roof, garage doors, side doors, and windows, it requires less labor and materials to alter the rest for your needs.
3. Potential rental income. A garage converted into habitable space offers its owner such an opportunity as rental attractiveness. Construct an accessory dwelling unit with minimal costs and use it for gaining even more profit!
4. Significant value boost. When you convert a garage into a living space, you create more value for your overall property. So if you have an intention to resell it in the future, converting a garage now may be a wise step to take.
5. Less stringent legal requirements. It depends on a specific city, but in some areas, permitting requirements and building regulations for converted spaces may be easier from a legal point of view. But of course, it’s if you don’t convert an unpermitted work into an ADU.

To sum up, creating garage conversions may be very lucrative in many cases. However, it’s important to make sure your garage is suitable for conversion and to learn how you can modify your garage to cater to this purpose more.

Garage Conversion Project Considerations

If you have decided to get your garage converted without any major changes to its floor plan, there are several matters you should pay attention to.

To legally convert a garage into an ADU, you need to remember the following:

• Requirements for minimum room dimensions (the minimum square foot number for any ADU is 150 sq. ft.). If your garage is too small, there is no point in trying to convert it.
• Necessary ceiling heights and egress windows; the need for a separate entrance in your ADU (no matter if it’s exterior or through a shared entryway).
• The layout should account for all necessary living spaces (for food preparation, sleeping, living area, and bathroom zone).
• The need to connect your ADU to plumbing lines and install electrical wiring. Thus, your current systems should support the extra facilities. If you need additional work, such as creating a new drainage system, it may result in significant costs.
• At the end of construction, it should have all necessary amenities, like fully functional kitchen appliances, bathroom facilities, cooling, heating, and adequate insulation for energy efficiency.
• Sufficient storage space for your belongings. If you used to store your lawn mower or snowmobile in the garage rather than a separate shed, you’ll need to think about where you’re going to store them after construction.
• Adequate parking space. By building an ADU, you shouldn’t compromise on sufficient parking space. In case your property doesn’t have spare parking spots you can easily access, a garage conversion may not be the best choice in the long run.
• Easily changeable garage door. Typically, you need to add patio doors or another entrance instead of where your garage door used to be. If it’s not possible, make sure the new wall matches the rest of your home’s exterior.
• Convenient access and fire safety. Ensure that the new living space has convenient access for occupants and offers clear paths and easy entry and exit points. More so, learn more about fire safety requirements, such as the installation of smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.

The last but not the least in meaning is the cost of a garage conversion. In order to keep the cost down, make sure the garage has a convenient location to minimize costs for plumbing and electrical system upgrades. Also, estimate if your HVAC system can support the new square footage. Besides, carefully ponder on such things as new insulation, flooring, and any structural alterations to determine if your budget aligns with the overall scope of the garage conversion project.

Permits for Garage Conversions

Wondering if you require a permit to repurpose your garage? In the event that you alter the use of your garage, it is possible that you will require a permit, depending on your location. To acquire permits for converting your garage, reach out to your city’s zoning department for further information.

As for now, let’s divide the whole ordeal into two big parts: preparation to permit acquisition and the acquisition itself.

Before Permitting

There are a few things that are vital to remember when it comes to permitting requirements within garage conversions projects.

These involve:

1. Studying building codes, local ordinances, and other regulatory laws for your area. Your floor plan should correspond to all requirements in the ADU building field, such as the smallest number of windows permitted for the living premises, the amount of exit and entrance points, the number of outlets, or the allowable height of the ceiling.
2. Permit cost. Depending on project complexity and other factors, garage conversions may bring forth different permit costs. If you need to make changes in the process, you’d have to pay more. The average price of a permit for a garage conversion ranges from $1000 to $1500.
3. Parking space requirement. Living space is undoubtedly important, but some jurisdictions may prevent you from a garage conversion in case you don’t have enough covered parking on your property.
4. Wait for an inspection. After the end of construction, you’ll have to undergo inspections so that local authorities can observe how you comply with the requirements of the building code and zoning laws.

Permit Acquisition Process

First of all, before the garage conversion takes place, a homeowner needs to ensure this type of living space conversion is permissible in the particular area at all. Moreover, it requires understanding the specific requirements for such projects. Only then does the process begin.

Once you’ve done it all, proceed with the following steps:

• Gather the mandated documentation for the permit application. This may involve architectural plans, structural drawings, a site plan, and details of proposed remodeling alteration, including electrical, plumbing, and climate control changes.
• Fill out the application form and provide the necessary documentation and permit fees. Submit it to the local building or planning department.
• Wait for the review and approval. The building and planning department will take its time to meticulously check your application and the related documents, observing compliance with the building laws as well as health and safety standards.
• If there are some clarifications or alterations needed on your part, the department workers may request them during the review stage.
• Issuing permits. If you meet all requirements in your floor plans, site plans, and other documentation, the department will approve your application and issue permitting documents. These may include not only building permits but also electrical permits, plumbing permits, and any other relevant permits required by specific works.
• Inspections during construction. When the garage conversion project begins in its remodeling stage, various inspections will take place to ensure that the work complies with the approved plans and local regulations.

Converting a garage into an ADU is a big job that demands attentiveness to detail and careful planning. However, with a skilled contractor like, for example, A+ Construction & Remodeling or another contractor in Sacramento, California, you can go through this process without a hitch!

Frequently Asked Questions — FAQ

How much value does a garage conversion add to my property?

The value that a garage conversion adds to your property can vary depending on various factors, such as the location, size, complexity of the project, quality of the result, and specific real estate market conditions. If, after converting a garage, you have an efficient and aesthetically pleasing unit that has some rental potential or just functional value, you can increase the property value by around 20%.

How do I transform a garage into a functional living space?

To create an ADU apartment by converting your garage, you have to consider layout, the placement of amenities, and any necessary structural modifications. Then your contractor develops a design plan, obtains permits, performs demolitions, and prepares the garage. The next thing is to install or upgrade electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems, insulate, add doors, windows, frame new walls, install flooring, paint, and add other finishes.

What is the average cost of a garage conversion project?

The cost depends on the specific scope of the project, the quality of the materials used, as well as plenty of other factors. Still, we can say that the average cost for converting a garage into an ADU ranges from $10,000 to $50,000, which is way more affordable than other housing solution types.

Can I use drywall for a garage conversion?

Yes, after the main work, such as wall framing, modifying doors and windows, electrical wiring, plumbing, and others, you can choose any interior finish you like. Whether it’s drywall or paint, hardwood, laminate, tile, or carpet, make sure your room is properly insulated for a higher level of comfort.